I was watching an episode of "Masters of Sex" the other day, and I was really appalled at how homosexuality was dealt with back in the 60's. It wasn't the first time I heard about such "breakthrough" procedures, but seeing it on screen made me want to go back in time and punch somebody in the face.
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| image courtesy of Masters of Sex |
In that episode, the hospital provost Barton Scully was depicted as a family man with a secret. Barton was an esteemed head of a hospital and a beloved member of the community. Behind closed doors, he slept in a different room from his wife and secretly meets up with a male gigolo. When his secret was threatened, he decided to seek medical help to eliminate his homosexuality.
He was desperate to live a "normal" life with his wife and daughter, and he was willing to try even the most dangerous (and untested) "cures" available in the medical field. It was painful watching Barton go through the process. I couldn't imagine anyone having to go through that kind of torture and pain. In the end, the homosexuality remained but his mental faculties were not quite the same. He attempted to end his life.
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| image courtesy of Masters of Sex |
We are lucky that our society has evolved into what it is: more accepting and open to diversity. While we are years away from attaining full equality (sadly, some cultures are still stuck in the middle ages when it comes to sexuality), we at least enjoy a certain level of freedom. Freedom to be who we are, and freedom to choose who we want to be with.
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